Antiseptic dispenser



\ Feb. 23, 1965 c. CASTELLI ANTISEFTIC DISPENSER Filed June 7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2/ J. .1. r //\v 1 T a d I INVEN '1 'OR.

BY I ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1965 c. CASTELLI ANTISEPTIC DISPENSER H 2 m 2 T 0 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IyENTOR. 64%?455 4:74-21/ Filed June 7, 1965 ATTORNEY and with the ambient atmosphere.

United States Patent 3,170,633 ANTKSEPTIC DISPENSER Charles Castelii, New Brunswick, N.J., assignor to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Filed lune 7, 1963, Ser. No. 286,278 1i Claims. (Cl. 239-327) Thepresent invention relates to dispensers for liquid antiseptics, more particularly to such dispensers Where in the antiseptic is adpted to be applied by spraying.

In the application of liquid antiseptics to wounds it may be desirable either to apply the antiseptic in the form of a spray, as a drop or drops, or as a stream, depending upon the nature of the wound and the purpose for which the antiseptic is being used. For instance, spray application is particularly desirable for a surface wound such as a scrape which covers acomparatively large area, whereas drops are most suitable for a small puncture or nick in the skin. On the other hand, the stream is best suited for treatment and flushing out of a deep wound, such as an elongated out.

It therefore is one of the main objects of this invention to provide a dispenser for liquid antiseptics which is adapted to be adjusted easily to apply the antiseptic to a wound either as a spray, as droplets, or in the form of a stream.

According to the present invention, a squeeze type dispenser is provided comprising a dispensing opening and a valve member possessing a spray orifice, a drop orifice, and a flow, or stream orifice. The valve member is adapted to be adjusted easily'with respect to the dispensing opening to register any one of the orifices with the opening and therefore make it possible to apply the antiseptic in either spray, drop, or stream form. More specifically, this dispenser includes valve holding means which comprise an internal cylindrical bore communicating with the interior of the dispenser and with the abovereferred-to dispensing opening. The dispensing opening, itself, communicates both with the cylindrical bore A hollow va-lve memher is provided to fit inside the cylindrical bore of the valve holding means and normally seal off the dispensing opening. The valve member comprises a cylindrical outer wall and a transverse inner wall which together detime an internal spray chamber and an internal flow charnber. The outer wall presents a cylindrical outer surface which is adapted to fit tightly within said bore. The

spray, drop and stream orifices, referred to above, are located in and defined by the cylindrical outer wall of the valve member. The spray orifice connects the spray.

chamber with the cylindrical outer surface of the valve member and the fio'w. orifice connects the fiow chamber with this cylindrical outer surface. The drop I orifice also connects the cylindrical outer surface of the valve the cylindrical surface with the flow chamber.

Thus, the dispenser of this invention may be held upright with the spray orifice exposed to the dispensing opening to allow .a spray to be produced when the d?s' penser is squeezed or it may be held in a. horizontal or I pouring position with either the drop or Ifi'oworifices exposed to the dispensing'opening so that either drops or a stream are produced when the dispenser is squeezed.

'.The valve member is adapted to be turned easily in the cylindrical bore of the valve holding means to register any one of the above described orifices with the dispensing opening for this purpose, or to assure that none of these orifices register with the dispensing opening and that the tightly fitting cylindrical outer surface of the valve mem- 3,17,633 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 F ce ber seals off the dispensing opening when the dispenser is not in use. I I

Appropriate indicia are adapted to be provided on'the valve member to'indicate the position it is in with respect to the dispensing opening. V I e Other. and further advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and claims taken together with the drawings wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of a dispenser according'to a preferred embodiment of this invention with the dispenser shown upright and adjusted for producing a FIG. 2' is a similar view in perspective of the same dispenser in a horizontal position and adjusted for producing drops;

FIG. 3 is a similar view of this dispenser in a horizontal position wherein the dispenser is adjusted for producing a stream of antiseptic; FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view of the valve member of the dispenser of the foregoing figures clearly showing the indicia indicating the spray, drop, flow, and off positions of the dispenser;

FIG. 5 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the dispenser of the foregoing figures; I

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in elevation of the valve member in position in the valve holding means oftne aforesaid dispenser;

FIG. 7 is a similarly enlarged view partly in section and partly in elevation of the valve member and valve holding means of this same dispenser in position in the neck of the dispenser body;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view in perspective of the valve member and valve holding means, of this dispenser showing their relationship to each other and to the neck of the dispenser when the flow orifice is aligned with the dispensing opening;

FIG. 9 is a view partly in plan and partly in section taken along the line 3 9 of, FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view partlyin plan and partly in section taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 11 is a view partly in plan and partly in section taken along the line l111 of FIG. 7. I

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of this invention in comprises a body portion 15, an upright neck 16, valve holding means 17 in said neck, and a'valve member 13 fitted inside the valve holdingmeans 17. The valve holding means has a spout 19'which defines a dispensing opening 21 exposed to the ambient atmosphere. The

A valve member 13 includes a combined dial and handle member with'the interior. of'the dispenser, and preferably connects 2 2 whichrides ontop of the valve holding means and presents indicia 23 which indicate the various positions of the valve and its orifices with respect to the dispensing opening in the spout.

Preferably, the valve member 18 has four positions a radially located approximately 90 from' one another about the valve axis so thatthe valve member is turned V at least 90 to move from one position to another. These positions are spray, drop, flow, and off. A small recess 24 is provided the underside of the handle 22 j for snapping onto a small raised detent 25 located on the top of the spout 19 at each of these positions. Thus there are four such recesses 24 spaced radially approximately from one another. FIG. 1 shows the dial 22 in the spray position with respect to the spout 19 and the dispenser upright in the hand with the dispenser body 15 being squeezed to produce a disinfectant spray. FIG. 2 shows the valve dial 22 in the drop position with respect to the spout 19 and the dispenser held horizontally 1y horizontal position.

in thehand as the dispenser body 'is being Squeezed to produce droplets. FIG. 3 shows the valve dial 22 in the flow, or stream, position with respect to the spout 19 and the dispenser body 15 being squeezed to produce a stream of disinfectant as the dispenser is held in an approximate- As indicated above, FIG. 4 il-L lustrates the valve dial 22 inits off position with respect to the spout 19 and the dispensing opening therein.

The neck 16 of the dispenser is molded integral with the dispenser body 15 and is essentially cylindrical both inside and out. The inner cylindrical surface of the neck 16 presents a holding ring 26 which is intended to cooperate with a corresponding shoulder 27 on the outer surface of the valve holding member 17. The valve holding member 17 also is essentially cylindrical in shape and includes an annular rim 28 which is adapted to fit on top of the neck 16 of the dispenser; a plugging portion 29 below the rim '28 which is adapted to fit through and into the ring 26 on the neckof the dispenser and secure the valve holding member 17 in position therein; and an operating portion 31 located for the most part above the rim 28 and which presents the above-referred-to spout .19 and dispensing opening 21 at one side of the dispenser and defines'a cylindrical bore 32 connectedto this dispensing opening 21 for cooperation with the valve member. The plugging portion 29 of the valve holding means has an inclined surface portion 33 which terminates in the shoulder 27. Four positioning ribs 34 are located approximately 90 from one another about the cylindrical surface of the plugging section 29 adjoining the annular rim 28. A cooperating set of four recesses 35 are correspondingly spaced approximately 90 fromone another in the top of the bottle neck 16. Thus, when the plugging portion 29 of the valve holding means 17 is pressed into the neck 16 of the dispenser, the inclined surface 33 of the plugging portion allows the shoulder '27 thereof to pass under the ring 26 in the bottle neck, provided that the four: ribs 34 are registered with the recesses 35, so that the valve holding means 17 can be snapped into posi tion in the neck'16'ofthe dispenser. When the valve holding means 17 is in position, it cannot be withdrawn axially from the neck'16 since the shoulder 27 is fitted under the ring 26 in the neck and the ring grips the plug- 7 ging portion 29 of the valve holding means above the shoulder. In the same way, the valve holding means 17 is fixed in position radially with respect to the neck because the four ribs 34 are fitted in. the corresponding four recesses 35 in the neck.

The. valve member 18,comprises a cylindrical outer' The cylindrical wall 37 ofthe valve memberalso 4 7 for receiving a 'flexible cylindrical tube 46 which extends down to the bottom 47 of the dispenser. The tube 46 is slightly lower than the direct distance to the bottom of the dispenser along a center line through the valve 18 member so that it is caused to bend slightly and extend to one side or the other of the dispenser to assure that all of the antiseptic in the dispenser may be picked up by the tube 46' and sprayed therefrom if desired. The bottom 47 of the dispenser is dished upwardly or concave in shape to facilitate the positioning of the lower end of the tube 46 in the above described manner. Thespray chamber 39 includes a ridge 48 which abutsthe top end of the tube 46 and thereby fixes its position in the spray chamber. This leaves an upper portion 49 of the spray chamber above the tube. A spray orifice 51 in the form of a small, horizontal, cylindrical opening, is cut through the cylindrical wall 37 of the valve member 18 to conmeet the upper portion 49 ofthe spray chamber with the cylindrical outer surface 42 .of the valvemember. '7

A pair of vertical grooves, or recesses 52, are included in the side surfaces of the spray chamber, 39 and are located in such a way that they. connect the cylindrical bore 32 of the valve holding means 17, below .the valve member 1%, with the .upper portion 49 of the spray chamber 39; Thus, when the valve member is turned to its spray position so that the spray orifice 51 is exposed to the dispensing opening 21, as shown in FIG. 7, and the dispenser body 15 is squeezed, antiseptic is forced up the tube 46 and air is forced up the channels 52 into the upper portion 49 of the spray chamber and a spray is formed by forcing the mixture of air and antiseptic through the sprayv orifice 51 and the dispensing opening 21.

The flow chamber 41 is quite a bit larger than the spray chamber 39 and is shaped somewhat like a half-moon, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 11. A flow, orstream orifice 53 in the form of another horizontal cylindrical hole .cut

' through the cylindrical outer wall 37 of the valve memto fit tightly within the cylindrical bore 32 of the valve holding means and normally seal off the dispensing opening 21. A positioning flange 43 is located at the lower end of the valve member'forcooperating with an internal shoulder 44 'on the cylindrical bore" 32 for positioning the valve member 18 in the valve holding means 17. The outer dimension of the cylindrical surface 42 of the valve member 13 is normallyslightly greater than,

, but at least equal to, the inner dimension of the'cylindrical bore 32 so that there is atight fit between them.

Similarly, the outer dimension of' the flange '43; at the lower end of the valve member is greater than the inner dimension of the corresponding shoulder 44 in the cylindrical bore 32 so that whenthe flange 43 is positioned under the. shoulder 44, the valve 18 is held in position in g the valve holding means 17 and can not be removed thereber 18 is located atapproximately 180 radially from the spray orifice 51 toconnect the flow chamber .41 with the cylindrical outer surface 42 of the valve member 18.

When it is desired to dispense the antiseptic in a stream,

' septic flows through the opening until the dispenser body is squeezed. ,Corres'pondingly, the diameter of the fiow orifice is large enough so that whenthe dispenser body is squeezed, a definite stream is directed through the dis pensing opening.

A drop orifice 54 formed by one end of an elongated shallow recess, or fluid flow channel, .55 is the cylindrical outer surface 42 of the valve member is located approximately half waybetween, or about 90 radially from, the spray orifice 51 and the flow orifice 53 The recess 55 extends circumferentially on said valve member 18 and connects with a small annular'recess- 56 surrounding the floworifice 53 and concentric therewith. The recess 55 defining the drop orifice 54 extends circumferentially slightly more than 90 from the flow orifice "53 so that when the valve member is turned 90. in one direction from the flow position, the end portionof the recess dewith the valve member 18,:in this position and the dispenser body 15 .is squeezed, theantiseptic is dispensed in small droplets. Asmentioned in connectionwith'the 'fiow orifice 53, if the dispenser body is not'sque'ezed no antiseptic normally will escape from the dispenser. It is preferred that the dispenser body 15, thevalve holding means'17, and the valve member 18 all be molded from resilient plastic materials. It is important that thecylindrical outer surface 42 of the valve member 18 fit tightly enough in the cylindrical bore 32 of the valve holding means 17 to prevent leakage of liquid from the dispenser. However, it also is necessary that the cylindrical surface 42 of the valve member be free enough with respect to the cylindrical bore 32 to allow the valve member to be rotated easily in said bore to seat the valve member at the desired position therein. It is preferred for this purpose that at least one of said valve members 18 and said valve holdingmeans 17 be formed from a relatively flexible and resilient plastic material such as low density polyethylene and that there be an interference fit between the outer surface of the valve member and the bore of the valve holding means, i.e., that the outer diamter of the cylindrical outer surface 42 of the valve member be appreciably greater than the inner diameter of the cylindrical bore 32 of the valve holding means. Since it also is important that the valve holding means 17 fit tightly into the neck 16 of the body of the dispenser, it is preferred that the valve holding means 17 be the part which is formed from the relatively flexible material, i.e., low density polyethylene. This means that valve holding means 17 will be the part that gives, not only to allow a tight but free fit between the valve member 18 and the valve holding means 17, but also to allow a tight and leakproof fit between the neck 16 of the dispenser and the valve holding means 17.

If the valve holding means 17 is formed from a relatively flexible material such as low density polyethylene, the valve member 18 itself also may be formed from low density polyethylene, in which case an interference fit of approximately 0.015 between the diameters of the outer surface of the valve member 18 and the bore of the valve holding means 17 will give good results. However, the valve member 18 may be formed from polypropylene, medium or high density polyethylene, or the like, provided that the valve holding means 17 is sufficiently flexible to provide the required fit between the parts. It also is important that the valve member 18 and the valve holding means 17 be formed from a plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene which has a high lubricity since this also is necessary to assure the desired freeness. With these materials it also is possible to adjust their lubricity by additives and the like, for this purpose.

The dispenser body and the neck 16 attached thereto may be molded from a variety of plastics including low to high density polyethylene, vinyl polymers and copolmers, polypropylene and others. It is important that the walls of the body of the dispenser to flexible and resilient so that they can be squeezed easily to operate the dispenser and will resume their normal positions due to their resiliency when released. Since it also is desirable to maintain the walls of the dispenser as thin as possible to conserve materials and make it easy to operate, it is desirable that they be molded from a relatively tough plastic such as high density polyethylene or polypropylene.

Having now described the invention in specific detail and exemplified the manner in which it may be carried into practice, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that innumerable variations, applications, modifications, and extensions of the basic principles involved may be made without departing from its spirit or scope.

' The invention claimed is:

l. A dispenser for liquid antispetic which comprises valve holding means defining an internal cylindrical bore communicating with the interior of the dispenser and a dispensing opening connecting said cylindrical bore with the ambient atmosphere, a hollow valve member presenting a cylindrical outer surface adapted to fit tightly within said bore and normally seal off said dispensing opening, said valve member comprising a cylindrical outer wall and a transverse inner wall together defining an internal spray chamber and an internal flow chamber, the cylindrical wall of said valve member defining a spray orifice connesting said spray chamber with the cylindrical outer surface of said valve member and a flow orifice connecting said flow chamber with said cylindrical outer surface, said flow orifice being spaced angularly from said spray orifice in the wall of the valve member and said valve member being adapted to be rotated in said cylindrical bore to selectively expose to the dispensing opening in said valve holding means said spray orifice, said flow orifice or the cylindrical outer surface, itself, of the valve member, whereby the contents of the dispenser may be sprayed or poured therefrom or sealed from the outside atmosphere, respectively.

2. A dispenser for liquid antispetic according to claim 1, wherein said valve member also defines a drop orifice communicating with the cylindrical outer surface of said I valve member and with the interior of said dispenser, and said drop orifice is exposed to said dispensing opening in a given rotative position of said valve member in said cylindrical bore.

3. A dispenser for a liquid antiseptic according to claim 2, wherein said drop orifice is connected to an elongated fluid flow channel.

4. A dispenser for a liquid antispetic according to claim 3, wherein said fluid flow channel is in the form of an elongated shallow recess exposed to the cylindrical outer surface of said valve member.

5'. A dispenser for a liquid antiseptic according to claim 4, wherein said elongated recess extends circumferentially on said valve member and connects with said flow orifice.

6. A dispenser for a liquid antiseptic according to claim 2, wherein cooperating means are provided on said valve holding means and said valve member for fixing said valve member in four angularly separated rotative positions in said cylindrical bore wherein said spray orifice,

said flow orifice, said drop orifice and the cylindrical outer surface, itself, of the valve member may be selectively exposed to said dispensing opening merely by rotating said valve member in said cylindrical bore until the valve member reaches the desired position.

7. A dispenser for a liquid antiseptic according to claim 6, wherein said valve member is marked with indicia to identify the cooperating means on said valve member for each of said positions of the valve member relative to said dispensing opening.

8. A dispenser for a liquid antiseptic according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser is molded from a resilent plastic material and the cylindrical outer surface of said valve member fits tightly enough in the cylindrical bore of said valve holding means to prevent leakage of the liquid from the dispenser but freely enough to allow said valve memher to be rotated in said bore to expose the desired orifice to the dispensing opening or to seal off" the opening as the case may be.

9. A dispenser for liquid antiseptic according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said valve members and said valve holding means is formed from a relatively flexible and resilient plastic material and there is an interference fit between the cylindrical outer surface of said valve member and the bore of said valve holding means.

10. A dispenser for liquid antiseptic according to claim 9, wherein said resilient plastic material is low density polyethylene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,577,321 Filger Dec. 4, 1951 2,764,453 Robb et al. Sept. 25, 1956 2,779,628 Croce Jan. 29, 1957 2,790,582 Halpern Apr/30, 1957 2,981,447 Jennings Apr. 25, 1961 2,996,258 Commarato Aug. 15, 1961 2,997,243 Kolb Aug. 22, 1961 3,062,419 Goth Nov. 6, 1962 3,122,285 Fluess Feb. 25, 1964 

1. A DISPENSER FOR LIQUID ANTISPETIC WHICH COMPRISES VALVE HOLDING MEANS DEFINING AN INTERNAL CYLINDRICAL BORE COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF THE DISPENSER AND A DISPENSING OPENING CONNECTING SAID CYLINDRICAL BORE WITH THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE, A HOLLOW VALVE MEMBER PRESENTING A CYLINDRICAL OUTER SURFACE ADAPTED TO FIT TIGHTLY WITHIN SAID BORE AND NORMALLY SEAL OFF SAID SAID DISPENSING OPENING, SAID VALVE MEMBER COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL OUTER WALL AND A TRANSVERSE INNER WALL TOGETHER DEFINING AN INTERNAL SPRAY CHAMBER AND AN INTERNAL FLOW CHAMBER, THE CYLINDRICAL WALL OF SAID VALVE MEMBER DEFINING A SPRAY ORIFICE CONNECTING SAID SPRAY CHAMBER WITH THE CYLINDRICAL OUTER SURFACE OF SAID VALVE MEMBER AND A FLOW ORIFICE CONNECTING SAID FLOW CHAMBER WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL OUTER SURFACE, SAID FLOW ORIFICE BEING SPACED ANGULARLY FROM SAID SPRAY ORIFICE IN THE WALL OF THE VALVE MEMBER AND SAID VALVE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL BORE TO SELECTIVELY EXPOSE TO THE DISPENSING OPENING IN 